CURRENT LITERATURE.
The Coming Terror, and other Essays and Letters. By Robert
Buchanan. (Heinemann.)—The most striking characteristic of this multifarious collection of opinions and assertions is the author's amazing egotism. There are some fine thoughts in the volume, for Mr. Buchanan is a poet; but there is much that has little to sustain it beyond the assurance of the writer. The letters and essays were for the most part written for the day, and beyond the day are valueless, unless for students, if such there be, who regard Mr. Buchanan as a guide, philosopher, and friend. He is an advocate, as he many times observes, of the "higher Socialism," which is perhaps as difficult to define as the "higher culture ; " and he states that, from the first moment he began te write, he has "been endeavouring to vindicate the freedom of human personality, the equality of the sexes, and the right of revolt against arbitrary social laws conflicting with the happiness of human
nature." It is unnecessary to attempt any review of a volume the larger portion of which consists of letters reprinted from the Daily Telegraph. Mr. Buchanan attacks with considerable energy the
current judgments of the age. He does not fight with shadows, and appears to be never so happy as in assaulting Mr. Huxley, who returns with vigour the blows that he receives. As Mr. Herbert Spencer says, the Professor is "fertile in strong expressions!' The Coming Terror which is supposed to threaten us is that of the Majority trampling down the rights of the Minority ; and this, we are told, is done by over-legislation and by the vulgar tyranny of the "New Journalism," which "has paralysed literature and destroyed free thought and free feeling all over the world." "Are Men born Free and Equal ?" starts the game which brings both Professor Huxley and Herbert Spencer into the field. A " brief " letter of forty pages addressed to the Home Secretary, entitled "On Descending into Hell," is a plea for Mr. Vizetelly, and also, it would seem, for the free publication of any literature, however evil. "The literature of Hell," Mr. Buchanan affirms, "is God's literature too," while "sensualism is antecedent to and triumphant over all books whatsoever." To be logical, the writer should argue for the free sale of poisons. "The man whe says that a book has power to pollute his soul, ranks his soul below a book," is one of many utterances delivered by Mr. Buchanan in which there is more sophistry than wisdom. Moreover, he refutes his own assertions, for he tells of two young and well- educated girls who, having learnt from "some modern pessimistic books" that the world was impure, lost all vital belief, and threw themselves on the London streets ; and he records another case of ruin, equally sad, which he also attributes to the study of "the
new literature." There is justice, however, in his remark that while suppressing what is regarded as obscene literature, we admit the unfettered circulation of the dirty details of the Divorce Court. Mr. Buchanan does not spare his epithets. Mr. Henry James is omnisciently silly ; " Mr. George Moore, "the prophet of straight- forward animalism;" Mr. Labouchere, the Paul Pry of journalism and the Scapin of politics : and his coarse comments on a theatrical critic are not criticism, but resemble, in some degree, the personali- ties of the "New Journalism" of which he justly complains. The Coming Terror is a strange medley of paradox and truth, of weakness and of strength, and its bold assertions are more likely to startle the reader than to convince him. Much of what Mr. Buchanan asserts with confidence is, to our thinking, false, much is unworthy of publication in book form, and we look back with regret to the years, long ago past, when, instead of endeavouring
to reform mankind by discussions of doubtful value, Mr. Buchanan taught more wisely through his verse, and sang as only a poet could.
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